If you have a medical emergency it is important to get care right away. Instead of waiting a crowded emergency room try going to after hours urgent care center. Some of these facilities are open 24 hours and can help with a variety of medical issues including flu and sports injuries.

After hours urgent care center offers you a much quicker experience than the emergency room or walk in health clinic. Fifty-seven percent of patients wait 15 minutes or less to be seen. About 80 percent of all visits are 60 minutes or less according to a survey by the Urgent Care Association of America.

After hours urgent care centers employ experienced medical professionals. Almost two-thirds of urgent care facilities employ a mix of physicians or nurse practitioners or physician assistants and 65% of centers have at least one physician on-site at all times. After attending an after hours urgent care center it is important for you to see your own doctor.

One of the drivers for the growth of the urgent-care industry is the increasing caseload of primary care physicians. This leads to difficulty scheduling appointments and longer wait times and decreased time spent with each patient. Despite this a strong primary care physician can help you with problems that do not require a visit to after hours urgent care. To stay healthy find a primary care physician who can help with a wide range of medical problems.

The urgent care industry continues to grow. An estimated three million patients visit an urgent care center each week in the U.S. The typical emergency department visit costs an average of $1,500. Treatment at after hours urgent care center costs, on average, under $150.

If you have a medical emergency it is important to find the right after hours urgent care center that can offer you top notch care. After you are done with the immediate care visit you should see your primary care physician. Follow this path and you will be back to your healthy self in no time. For more information see this.